I remember when I first learned about the six different phases of editing.
All of them are necessary, but only at the appropriate time.
You’ve done the work and should congratulate yourself.
Completing the cozy feels like getting a dream-come-true puppy on your birthday.
A new story is filled with energy, hope, and promise.
If treated well, it becomes an interactive emotional support for both the reader and writer.
New puppies need to get to the vet for shots.
Creative projects, like new puppies, also need special care.
The Surprising Truth:
One very important editing step isn’t listed, but skipping this could cost you months of valuable time.
Developmental Editors = Are your story ideas like lost sheep roaming across multiple meadows–wild and uncoordinated? A developmental editor can group these tidbits of inspiration as a shepherd safely gathers sheep.
Structural Editors = Did your main character go to Chicago for a bake-off, but in the next chapter, you talk about them planning for their big trip? A structural editor can catch this and bring clarity.
Content Editors = Is our intent coming across to readers logically? Do our words have the impact we intended? A content editor can objectively help these areas.
Line Editors = They tighten our words for clarity.
Copyeditors = All editors are detail oriented, but a copyeditors polish elevates the final product to the peak of professionalism. They edit your book in matters of style, punctuation, and grammatical errors.
Proofreaders = This is the last step before a book goes to print.
So, what’s the #1 Key Cozy Mystery Edit?
Reading silently is usually quicker, but the simplest and most accessible method at any time of day or night is to read your story aloud.
These frequent checks can save you time during writing.
This allows your professional editors to focus on their specialties.
Reading aloud slows you down enough to catch errors you might miss otherwise—especially if you’re a fast reader.
